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Memorandu of Agreement Re: Joint Partnership with DENR, Bantay Kalikasan and Conservation Intl on the Development and Protection of Ecotourism in the Country
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
KNOW IT ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
This Memorandum of Agreement made and entered into this 18th day of February 2008 at Quezon City, Philippines, by and among:
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources with office address at Visayas Avenue, Diliman Quezon City, represented by Jose L. Atienza, Jr, Secretary, hereinafter referred to as DENR;
The Department of Tourism with office address at TM Kalaw Avenue, Manila represented by Joseph Ace H. Durano, Secretary, hereinafter referred as to DOT;
The ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc/Bantay Kalikasan with office address at Mother Ignacia Avenue or Eugenio Lopez, Jr. Avenue, Quezon City represented by Regina Paz L. Lopez, Managing Director, hereinafter to as Bantay Kalikasan;
The Conservation International, a non-profit public benefit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of California, USA, acting through its registered branch office, Conservation-International-Philippines, with office address at No.6 Maginhawa Street Diliman, Quezon City represented by Romeo B. Trono, Country Representative, hereinafter referred to as CI;
WITHESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, both DOT and DENR are mandated by Executive Order 111 to implement the National Ecotourism Strategy (NES) through institutional mechanism and guidelines for the development and promotion of Ecotourism in the Philippines;
WHEREAS, the National Ecotourism Strategy provide an integrated management plan for developing ecotourism in the country;
WHEREAS, Bantay Kalikasan is a media-based local environment organization committed to the cause of environmental and natural heritage conservation and socio-economic upliftment of local communities thru responsible ecotourism and sustainable development principles;
WHEREAS, Bantay Kalikasan is willing to assist in promoting and positioning the Philippines as a world-class ecotourism destination usin ABS-CBN broadcast facilities here and abroad;
WHEREAS, CI is an international environmental organization which has a mission to conserve the earth‘s living heritage, our biodiversity and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature;
WHEREAS, DENR, DOT, Bantay Kalikasan, and CI believe that ecotourism is an effective tool that can effectively link human well-being and biodiversity conservation;
WHEREAS, DENR, DOT, Bantay Kalikasan, and CI jointly adheres to the vision of making the Philippines a world-class ecotourism destination with a balanced ecosystem and a rich cultural heritage where empowered and committed stakeholders, guided by environmentally-sound policies, pursue sustainable practices for the best interest of the present and future generations as envisioned and provided for under Annex B hereof;
WHEREAS, in pursuit of such vision, DENR, DOT, Bantay Kalikasan, and CI are willing to help manage existing and pre-identified ecotourism sites in the Philippines; to promote specific ecotourism sites and the position the Philippines as the major ecotourism destination; to help uplift the socio-economic well-being of communities around ecotourism sites thru sustainable development principles; and to help ensure environmental integrity at the ecotourism sites;
WHEREAS, DENR, DOT, Bantay Kalikasan, and CI have identified the pilot ecotourism project sites and classified these sites into two: DOT-NZAID Ecotourism Project Sites and Priority Ecotourism Sites as Classified in Annex A;
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the forgoing premises, the parties hereby agree and enter into this agreement under the following term and conditions;
A. SCOPE OF WORK AND OBLIGATION
1. DOT
- Deputize/authorize Bantay Kalikasan to coordinate project orientation, stakeholder and Local Government Unit (LGU) consultations, site assessment,
- Assist stakeholders in tourism product development, physical
intervention planning, tourism service provides training (e.g. eco-tour guides training and other front liners training etc.);
- Help organize, enhance and mobilize the local tourism council and multi-stakeholder group;
- Develop and implement marketing plan for each of the project sites;
- Integrated the project sites in international and domestic promotional programs;
- Submit report to the Project Executive Committee (PEC) every quarter; and
- Allocate three million (Php. 3, 000, 000. 00) as initial fund for the above undertaking of the joint project of the DENR, DOT, Bantay Kalikasan and CI, Php. 1, 000, 000. 00 of the said fund is understood to be specifically intended for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River project.
2. DENR
a. DENR-PAWB
- Deputize/authorize Bantay Kalikasan to enforce environmental laws and policies after a thorough paralegal training;
- Submit report to the PEC every quarter; and
- Help raise funding support for the project.
b. Regional Offices
- Provide staff to implement project activities in all the sites;
- Coordinate with the concerned Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), LGUs and other stakeholders the implementation of project activities;
- Lead the incorporation of appropriate environmental safeguards and sustainable development policies and other relevant laws; and
- Provide technical assistance and guidance to LGUs and stakeholders in complying with the requirements of environmental and ecotourism policies and laws.
3. Joint DENR-DOT
- Action planning and ecotourism planning in all the project sites;
- Provide assistance in the conduct of ecotourism related livelihood and other capacity building program for host communities; and
- Conduct regular monitoring of the progress of the project.
4. BANTAY KALIKASAN
- Coordinate the project orientation, stakeholder and LGU consultations, site assessment, action planning, massive IEC, trainings and ecotourism planning in all sites;
- Help raise funding support for the project thru advertisements, grants and donations;
- Where feasible, establish Bayan micro-finance, E-media and Bantay Bata Programs in ecotourism sites;
- Assign focal persons for the project;
- Assist DENR, DOT, and CI implement standard for ecotourism products, facilities and service through consultative workshops and stakeholders meetings;
- Promote through its television programs both local and abroad the ecotourism products, facilities and services of the priority project sites as well as the existing ecotourism sites already being assisted by the DOT through its donor partners provided that these sites meet minimum standard for products, facilities, and services.
5. CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
- Help source funding support and/or expertise for the conduct of activities related to this project;
- Provide technical expertise on the conservation and resource management;
- Provide assistance for the conduct of workshops and trainings and other related activities;
- Submit report to the PEC every quarter; and
- Help organize local communities and conduct massive IEC in all project sites in coordination with Bantay Kalikasan.
6. THE PROJECT EXEECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- As the program’s highest policy making body, the PEC shall be formed composed of representatives from DOT, DENR, AFI-BK, and CI. They will jointly conduct regular meetings every quarter to review outputs, discuss program issues, concerns and challenges and make policy and major decisions. The PEC shall report to the National Ecotourism Steering Committee;
- Bantay Kalikasan shall act as the PEC secretariat.
This agreement is valid for a period of five (5) years from the day of signing. The project duration may be extended by the parties prior to the date of expiration of this MOU or may be terminated by action of the parties, through a written notice signifying such intention, at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of expiration or the intended pre-termination.
Any other terms and conditions not included in this MOA may be made subject of another agreement which, if duly entered into and signed by the parties hereto shall automatically form part of this agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto signed this Agreement this 18th day of February 2008.
JOSEPH ACE H. DURANO
Secretary – DOT
JOSE L. ATIENZA JR.
Secretary – DENR
ROMEO B. TRONO
Country Representative
Conservation International
REGINA PAZ L. LOPEZ
Managing Director
ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.
Signed in the presence of:
Rolando Canizal
Theresa Mundita Lim
Oliver Coroza
Marlo Mendoza
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T
Republic of the Philippines )
Quezon City ) S.S
BEFORE ME, Quezon City, Philippines, this _____ day of February 2008, personally appeared:
Joseph Ace H. Durano CTC#12232116 issued on 01/16/2008 at Manila City;
Jose L. Atienza Jr. CTC#16461275 issued on 02/05/2008 at Quezon City;
Romeo B. Trono CTC#07647534 issued on 01/21/2008 at Quezon Ciy; and
Regina Paz L. Lopez CTC#16350547 issued on 01/22/2008 at Quezon City.
Known to me and to me known to be the same persons who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged before me that the same is their own and voluntary act and deed.
This instrument refers to as Memorandum of Understanding, consisting of five (5) pages, including this page on which the acknowledgement is written, and has been signed by the parties and their instrumental witnesses on each and every page including the annexes thereof.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL on the date and place first above-written.
Notary Public
Doc. No. ___
Page No. ___
Book No. ___
Series of 2008
“ ANNEX A ”
CLASSIFICATION OF ECOTOURISM PROJECT SITES
Priority Ecotourism Sites
1. Verde Island Marine Passage Corridor
2. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
3. Donsol, Sorsogon (Whale Shark Watching)
4. El Nido, Palawan (Marine Protected Area and Limestone Karst)
5. Tubbataha National Marine Park
DOT – NZAID Ecotourism Project Sites
1. Banawe Rice Terraces, Ifugao
2. Mayon Volcano, Albay, Bicol*
3. Pamilacan, Bohol (Dolphin Watching)
4. Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan
5. Sapang Bato, Angeles City Pampnga
6. Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
*Not yet for promotion due to findings of the NZAID Mission last April 2007
“ANNEX B”
MAGANDANG PILIPINAS
Ecotourism Development and Promotion Project
Vision Statement:
A world-class ecotourism destination with a balanced and a rich cultural heritage where empowered and committed stakeholders, guided by environmentally-sound policies, pursue sustainable practices for the best interest of the present and future generations.
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to help position the Philippines as a leading ecotourism destination in the world, by conserving and managing the natural attractions and uplifting the socio-economic well being of local communities. To this end, we will work towards the promotion of sustainable tourism by organizing the stakeholders and catalyzing the development of site specific comprehensive ecotourism plans. We will pursue all these, to improve the quality of life for present and future generations.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
• Conservation of the last few remaining ecologically important areas in the country;
• Better standard of living for the communities in ecotourism sites through the provision of alternative non-destructive resource-based livelihood;
• Enhanced visitor experience in ecotourism sites; and
• Awareness raising on the rich natural heritage of the country and promotion of responsible ecotourism.
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